"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate pictures?"
Percy smiled at Anna, who was currently muttering to Thalia. "Why?" Percy asked, genuinely curious. Anna was certainly a beautiful girl, she had to be photogenic, there was no possible way she wasn't. However, when he had asked that question, he was sure he would receive the same standard answer. 'I look awful in them'.
The answer he received was nothing like that. "Pictures are just a tool for vanity." Anna said, however, Percy got the feeling like she was about to delve into a long winded lecture of why pictures deserved to be despised. "They are for others to look at and admire. But pictures only capture the physical aspects, none of the emotional or intellectual. When people send pictures to relatives, they're sending images of what they look like over the years, not who they're evolving into."
"Okay, we get it Artemis, you're against vanity. Let's move on from this discussion." Thalia said quickly, trying to cut Anna off from a long lecture. "Artemis?" Percy asked, slightly confused at the analogy. Thalia brightened, and Percy got the feeling like Artemis was a favorite subject of hers.
"Yeah, Lady Artemis, one of the Olympian goddesses. Daughter of Zeus, twin sister of Apollo, goddess of the hunt. My sister and brother were named after the twins. Anyways, Artemis swore to be a maiden forever. She was all about women's rights."
"Anyways, point is, I hate taking pictures." Anna said, summing up the lecture she had been cut off from. "Don't let Silena hear you talking like that." Thalia muttered. Anna blanched, and Percy couldn't help but wonder why. However, for once, Grover seemed to be more in the loop than he was. "Silena Beauregard?" He asked, sounding almost hopeful. "The rhythmic gymnast? One of the most beautiful girls in the entire world?"
Percy had to disagree with that. He had never met this Silena character, but from where he was standing, she certainly wasn't the prettiest gymnast. Though before today he had only known Thalia, he had suddenly developed a preference towards blondes.
"Yep that's Lena. She's one of our closest friends. She's also dating the Olympic weightlifter Charles Beckendorf. And she's best friends with Beckendorf's cousin, female weightlifter, Clarisse La Rue. So if I were you, I'd pick my women a little better Grover."
Percy smiled, and patted his depressed friend on the back. "No worries G-man. There's always the female divers." Grover perked up, and suddenly a wicked gleam appeared in his eye. "Like Cal?" He asked deviously, waiting on edge for Percy's reaction.
The taller boy blanched. "Oh yeah, she's all yours." Unfortunately, much to Percy's chagrin, the exchange between the two swimmers had caught the girls' interest. "Who's Cal?" Thalia asked, glancing at Anna for some reason. Percy noticed that Anna was looking anywhere but at him. He wondered why, but chose not to comment.
"Percy's ex-girlfriend." Grover said wickedly, smiling a large grin that made Percy want to smack the back of his head. Which he proceeded to do. Ignoring Grover's complaints, Percy began to explain. "Last year, I was in an accident. I landed myself in the hospital, sharing a room with Calypso Daveed. We started talking, and ended up going out. We dated for a while, but it just didn't work out." Percy didn't go into full detail, rather he barely skimmed the surface of their relationship. However he had since moved on, and he really didn't want to go into all of it in front of Anna.
Speaking of the blonde, she seemed to be analyzing him, and Percy felt the need to justify himself, though for what, he had no idea. "She was really sweet to me, but way too jealous. She had been cooped up all her life, only getting out to dive. When her dad said grounded for life, he meant it. So when she finally got off restriction, and was allowed to date me, she got crazy possessive."
"Try just crazy." Grover muttered. Once again, Percy rolled his sea green eyes, and smacked Grover upside the head. "If she's so crazy than why did you say she was the hottest girl you ever met?" He asked Grover. Suddenly realizing the hole he had dug himself into when he saw Anna's grey eyes flash dangerously, he muttered, "Not that she has anything on you," more to himself than to Anna.
However, just to his luck, Thalia and Grover evidently heard. Grover's jaw dropped, while Thalia's electric blue eyes widened. Anna, who had turned around, saw their reactions. "What?" She asked them, thinking she had done something to merit the surprised expressions. Percy breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't heard him.
For some reason, he wanted to take things slow for the moment. He had met Anna a few hours ago, yet it felt like he had known her for years. They had both easily slipped into a comfortable relationship, bantering back and forth, and doing the occasional light flirting. However he didn't want to just ask her out, after knowing her for less than six hours. He didn't want her getting the wrong impression about him. Slow and steady would win him this race.
Realizing that he had spaced out, he looked up to find Thalia and Grover staring at him. "What?" He asked, confused at why they were looking at him like that. Suddenly realizing the absence of another, he frowned, and asked, "Where's Anna?"
Thalia simply raised an eyebrow at him, but Grover was helpful, and actually answered him. "She went over there to check the lists of when and where we take our pictures." Percy nodded. That made sense. However, what didn't make sense was the frantic beating of his heart when he realized Anna was gone. That was ridiculous. He obviously needed to get a grip, considering he had met her six hours ago.
Pushing her way out of the mob, Anna returned, her curls slightly awry. Taking a deep breath, she spoke to the rest of the group. "Apparently gymnasts take their pictures just before the swimmers, and we're all in the same place. Divers take their pictures after the swimmers, so head's up there Percy." The dark haired swimmer smiled at her gratefully. She was just brilliant. Who else would think to check if his ex-girlfriend would cross his path?
Suddenly his face dropped. His ex-girlfriend would cross his path. Percy groaned, and buried his face in his hands. Grover patted his back consolingly. "Don't worry Seaweed Brain, we'll be there guarding you from your big bad girlfriend." Anna said in a babying voice. Oddly enough, even though she chose to use Thalia's despicable nickname, Percy really didn't mind it coming from her lips. It was rather endearing.
"Ex-girlfriend." Percy corrected, placing emphasis on the 'ex'. After he said that, Anna smiled brightly at him. It may have just been the light, but he could have sworn that she literally brightened. "Right, well we all have to go and change. Our uniforms are with our coaches."
Both Grover and Percy groaned simultaneously. That meant they would have to face Poseidon. However, they were in luck, because Connor Stoll came up to them, wearing a disgruntled expression, and carrying their uniforms.
"You know, this is really degrading." Connor complained. "Being demoted down to intern status. I mean come on! I'm older than Travis, and yet he has a higher position than I do! You would think that I'm just the U.S.O.C's personal deliverer or something. Who do I look like, Hermes?"
Grover and Percy snickered, and took their uniforms with a quick thanks. However, Connor wasn't done yet. He had noticed Anna standing discreetly by Thalia. "Oho, what do we have here?" He asked in a flirtatious tone that made Percy bristle. "Annie, been far too long since I've seen you last! How have you been? Still breaking the poor boys' hearts?"
Percy expected Anna to roll her eyes, and shrug off Connor's attention, a habit she seemed to be keen upon. What he did not expect was for her to blush furiously. "You know, you've tried on two of my kin for size, but neither have been the right fit. So what do you say to going to the Olympic mixer with me? You know what they say, third time's the charm, and honestly, I'm more charming than either of my brothers."
"Buzz off Stoll, before I electrocute you." Thalia snarled. No one embarrassed her friend expect for her. Connor simply raised his eyebrow at her hostility, but left nonetheless. However, his suggestive wink towards Anna had Percy steaming at the ears.
Thalia however, was deep in thought. Anna was glancing nervously at her best friend, and as if reading her mind, she blushed a deeper red. Suddenly, the dark haired gymnast gasped loudly. "YOU DATED TRAVIS STOLL!" She cried at the top of her lungs, causing Anna's eyes to widen and her face to go scarlet.
"Thalia! Will you please lower your voice?" Anna begged desperately. However, Percy noted that she didn't deny the accusation. Which meant it was true. Percy's green eyes narrowed. He knew all about the Stoll brothers. They were both kleptomaniacs, and huge pranksters. Both worked for the USOC, and were huge players. The thought of Anna dating one of them, or worse, both of them, was something from Percy's worst nightmares that occurred only in the past few hours.
Though Thalia shut her mouth, Percy could practically see the gears turning in her head. "Wait a minute, Connor said you dated two of his brothers. But if you didn't date him then who…NO!" Thalia gasped out, her eyes wide. Anna's grey eyes darted around, and rested on Percy's stormy green ones. He was mad, and he knew she could tell.
Yet he could see the desperation in her eyes, as if she wanted to explain. But she shouldn't have to. They had known each other only a short while, and did he honestly think someone as gorgeous as that had never dated? Everyone broke the no dating rules, why should he expect Anna to be any exception?
"Look Thals, we'll talk about this in the dressing rooms. You boys go change, we'll meet you in the auditorium in a half hour." Though she was several inches shorter than Thalia, Percy watched as Anna dragged the taller girl off, ignoring her persistent questioning.
"She's right. Come on G-man, we'd better go change." Grover was staring at where the pair had been only a second ago, with a confused expression on his face. "Why do they need a half hour? It should take about five minutes!" Percy laughed out loud, causing several people to look his way. "Come on G-man, don't you remember? Even Thalia needs a while, and she hates all that girly stuff. Gymnasts have to do their hair, and wear make-up and crap like that."
Personally, Percy thought Annabeth didn't need anything, but he was excited to see her in the dramatic make-up he knew was regulation for the gymnastics pictures. He had detected only the barest traces of make-up over her nearly flawless skin, and judging by those unique, stormy grey eyes, someone would definitely do something to make her eyes stand out. Calypso had been a make-up freak, often going overboard, so much to Percy's chagrin, he had picked up a few things to add to his database of useless and humiliating knowledge. It was larger than one might think.
Hurriedly changing into his swim trunks, Percy grabbed the red white and blue jacket that had been hanging on the hanger. He made as if to zip up the jacket, before finding there was no zipper. Glancing at himself in the long mirror, he realized that a sliver of his chest was visible, obviously the desired effect. Percy was rather uncomfortable with it. He didn't have a problem diving into a pool wearing nothing but Speedos in front of the entire world, but that was during a competition. He didn't much fancy going around like this. However, it was something he had to deal with, and deal with it he would.
Finding Grover, the two of them made their way to the waiting area, and stood around until the girls arrived, ten minutes later. Seeing his two friends, one in particular made Percy's jaw drop. There was no way the USOC was planning to have them wear those leotards in any competition. They had been clearly made for pictures only, and clearly made for sex appeal.
The leotard was a glittery red, with a blue star with three white stripes extending out from it. It was long sleeved, but it left the shoulders and back bare, and the sleeves were made out of some shimmery, see through material. It was entirely sensual, and the person in the leotard did nothing to help.
Anna's hair was tied into a messy bun behind her left ear, however her hair didn't seem to be cooperating. Several tendrils were falling along her face, framing her delicate features, making Percy's throat go dry. He had been right to assume that somebody would insist upon decorating her eyes. Though she wasn't caked in make-up, her skin seemed to glow, while her eyes were framed with thin black lines, and her purple glittery eye-shadow along her eye lids made her grey eyes her most noticeable feature.
Thalia too looked stunning, with most of her heavy make-up washed off, leaving just a slight smoky eye effect around her eyes. And someone had obviously wrestled her short, choppy hair into a small ponytail. With the shorter lairs, somebody-obviously someone with expert fingers-had made two braids that crowned her dark head.
Thalia looked thoroughly disgruntled, while Anna simply looked distracted. "Oh hey Percy, Grover. Zip up your jackets will you? That's hardly appropriate." It might have just been Percy's imagination, but he could have sworn she was blushing when she glanced at the strip of bare chest that his jacket revealed. He smirked, and decided to tease her a little. "Like what you see?" He asked.
Anna's eyes widened, and Percy nearly fell back. He hadn't thought her eyes could get any wider or prettier, but he was wrong. "I just don't think you guys should go around like that." Grover snorted. "Actually, our jackets don't zip up. Anyways, you're one to talk. Will you two be posing for Playboy anytime soon? You already have a fan group."
Percy snapped his head up, and immediately noticed some younger, and older, guys glancing at both Thalia and Anna appreciatively. Not so much Thalia though. Not because she was any less of a knockout, but simply because she exuded confidence and danger. Only the daring were attracted. However, Anna was gorgeous, and seemingly innocent with her halo of blonde curls.
Clearly on the same page, both Grover and Percy sent the gaggle glares, telling them to back off. They were met with a few glares, but it was made clear that the two girls were only interested in talking to their friends, quickly dismissing anyone else who came up to talk to them.
Percy turned to Anna, and quietly said, "Just to let you know, you really look stunning." He saw Anna's cheeks color beautifully, and she opened her mouth to respond. However, the voice he heard was not Anna's, but one he hadn't heard in a while, and had been eager to keep it that way.
"Oh thank you Percy! You look quite sexy yourself. Though not everyone has been as lucky as me to see you without your shirt, this provides quite a nice view."
Percy groaned, and turned to the source of all his nightmares, Calypso Daveed.
A/N: Dun, dun DUN! Okay, mini cliffhanger there! This has been my longest chapter yet, and I'm on a roll here so I might update again today! Fo sho I'll be updating tomorrow, and I'll definitely update my other story, An Exchange of Leaders within today and tomorrow. So now you know who Percy's ex is! I always thought that Calypso wasn't tapped into enough during the series, so I'm doing it now. Though, since she wasn't written about too much, I have basic freedom with her! I'll try to keep her sweet and loving with Percy as to have her remain IC, but jealous and spiteful towards others.
On the IC/OOC note, I received a PM yesterday, saying that I was not keeping Percy or Annabeth in character, and having them fall in love too quickly. I am sorry if I've been writing them OOC, but in some aspects, I'm prepared to defend it, because it goes along with the same line of why they're falling in love so quickly. In this fic, they have never met before. They are meeting when Percy is sixteen going on seventeen, and Anna is fifteen going on sixteen. They didn't have to go through the whole awkward pubescent, falling for my best friend stage. They met when they are teenagers with raging hormones, and they're obviously physically attracted to one another. So I apologize if it seems like it's going too fast, but that's just how I'm writing them as teenagers.